Political correctness (written by Paul Newson)

In England: I’m a follically challenged and height impaired individual suffering from chronic thyroid difficulties. In Russia: I’m bald, short and fat.

Russia, I thank you. I really thank you. Coming to Russia is like rediscovering life. It’s like breaking free of shackles and breathing the sweet air of freedom. Freedom you’re thinking… Yes, I’m seriously talking about freedom. I can say the word old without getting arrested. I can say France pisses me off without later appearing in court under charges of racial discrimination. I can say to a student sorry, you’re not good enough for pre-intermediate English without being suspended for having an unduly suppressive attitude. Russia, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me have balls once again. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about the 21st century form of the bubonic plague; Political Correctness. This so called plague has spread across the Atlantic to Britain and has slowly crept its way over Europe and for some miraculous reason has stopped at the borders of Russia; your country having a good form of quarantine - the people of Russia. This lethal plague carries the symptom of turning a nation’s iron balls into deflated balloons. Without these iron balls, a nation thus retreats into its cave from fear; fear of setting foot outside your house just in case you accidentally offend someone; fear of being branded intolerant by expressing the slightest feeling of dissatisfaction towards the Gay Love Parade marching through your village. Fear of losing your high level job because you have just recently discovered you haven’t employed enough midgets, gays and feminists. The term Political Correctness does exist in Russia but I’m sure a majority of Russians don’t’ really know what it stands for. Trust me, keep it that way. For those of you unaware of this plague and its origins I will shed some light on the matter. The term Political Correctness only started to gain momentum in the late 20th century but has been noted as far back as World War One in trying to make language more appropriate for everyone. Only after the introduction of modern social-liberalism has political correctness or PC become so widespread. So what is it? With the influx of so many ethnic groups leading to a nation of multiculturalism, it was felt that the rights, opportunities and freedoms of these people were being restricted because of their labeled stereotypes i.e. minorities were feeling suppressed so complained a bit. Why were they feeling suppressed? During the 50s and 60s when the real influx of migrants occurred, Ethnic British people were not so accustomed to others of a different skin colour, religion and beliefs and hostilities often occurred. In those days intolerance was widespread but the influx of migrants continued and later formed large tight communities throughout the country. Intolerance can be seen when watching old versus modern TV shows. What might have been said 30 years ago definitely wouldn’t be acceptable now when referring to African or Asian citizens or any group for that matter. So these minorities who then saw themselves as British citizens demanded equal rights to that of any white Brit. But it didn’t stop there. Like with the Germans who were made to share their burden of guilt for the war, it was felt that by being more PC towards minority groups would redress the injustices of the past in matters such as race, class, gender and sexual orientation.